PSG will look to stay in control of the title race with a win against European contenders Lyon at Parc des Princes on Sunday.
Having secured a spot in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League, PSG will resume their Ligue 1 campaign with a challenging home game against Lyon, who are pushing for a top-four spot.
The home team are top of the table with 63 points in their 27 games. They are a point clear of second-placed RC Lens with two games in hand. As a result, a win against Lyon will make life a lot easier for them.
PSG have won four out of their last five league games and are heading into this fixture on the back of a comfortable 2-0 win over Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals second leg. They will be riding high on confidence, and Lyon might struggle to deal with them.
Meanwhile, the visitors are fifth on the table with 51 points in their 29 outings. While they have not been in the best of form, a Champions League spot is well within reach as they are only two points behind third-placed LOSC Lille.
After a run of six league games without a win, Lyon finally returned to winning ways in their last outing against FC Lorient. While it was a comfortable 2-0 win, they did not really create enough chances. They will certainly have to do much better to stand a chance against PSG. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.
Team News & Tactics
Paris Saint-Germain
Desire Doue and Nuno Mendes both picked up a knock against Liverpool and are unlikely to feature here. They join Fabian Ruiz (sore knee) and Quentin Ndjantou Mbitcha (hamstring strain) on the sidelines.
Luis Enrique’s team will line up in a 4-3-3 formation, where Matvey Safonov will continue in goal. Achraf Hakimi and Lucas Hernandez are expected to be the full-backs, while Illia Zabarnyi will partner with Lucas Beraldo in the heart of the defence.
Warren Zaire-Emery will feature in midfield alongside Vitinha and teenage sensation Pedro Fernandez. The trio will look to control the tempo and ensure they dominate the proceedings.
Bradley Barcola and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will feature on the flanks, providing much-needed width to their attacks. Meanwhile, Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele will continue to lead the line for PSG against Lyon on Sunday.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Safonov; Hakimi, Zabarnyi, Beraldo, Hernandez; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Fernandez; Barcola, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia
Lyon
The visitors will be without the services of Malick Fofana (sore ankle), Pavel Sulc (physical discomfort), Ernest Nuamah (ligament), and Nicolas Tagliafico (suspended).
Lyon will stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation, where Dominik Greif will take charge between the sticks. Steeve Kango and Abner Vinicius will feature as the full-backs, while Moussa Niakhate will pair up with Clinton Mata in the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Tanner Tessmann will form the double pivot. The duo will have a lot of defending to do as they will go up against one of the best attacking teams in all of Europe.
Adam Karabec and Afonso Moreira will feature on the flanks, while Corentin Tolisso will take charge in the number ten role. Meanwhile, Roman Yaremchuk will spearhead the Lyon attack against PSG on Sunday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Grief; Kango, Mata, Niakhate, Abner; Maitland-Niles, Tessmann; Karabec, Tolisso, Moreira; Yaremchuk
Key Stats
- After a run of six league games without a win, Lyon finally secured all three points against FC Lorient last time out.
- PSG have won each of their last six games across competitions.
- PSG have won their last six league meetings against Lyon.
- Lyon have dropped points in each of their last four away games in Ligue 1.
- Les Gones are just two points away from equalling the points they earned last season.
Player to Watch
Ousmane Dembele
Ousmane Dembele has been in sensational form in recent weeks and could once again be the difference-maker for PSG. The French international has racked up 16 goals and eight assists in his 32 appearances this season, and he seems to be peaking at the perfect time.
Having bagged a brace in their last league outing and followed it up with another standout display against Liverpool in the Champions League, Dembele is brimming with confidence. With Lyon already struggling for consistency at the back, Dembele’s movement and finishing could prove too much to handle.
Prediction
PSG 3-1 Lyon
PSG head into this fixture with momentum firmly on their side, and with the title race heating up, they will be keen to tighten their grip at the top. Luis Enrique’s men have been dominant in recent weeks, and with their attack firing on all cylinders, they will look to take control of the game early and dictate the tempo throughout.
Lyon, despite being in the hunt for a Champions League spot, have struggled for consistency, especially away from home. While they do have the quality to cause problems on the counter, containing PSG over 90 minutes is a completely different challenge.
Given the hosts’ form and attacking depth, they should have enough to secure a comfortable win and continue their push towards the Ligue 1 title. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for the home team.